bUKOC-JKRSEY SWINE BREEDERS. 261 



luke warm water aud in about six hours give a little slop. If that is 

 not too rich, increase slowly until the sixth or seventh day and then 

 allow them plenty of good slop. Don't give any corn until a])out the 

 third day and then just a very small amount, gradually increasing. Be 

 very careful about feeding corn. The corn had better be left off if 

 you have anything else to take its place. If corn is fed it should be veiy 

 sparingly until the pigs are several days old. I consider this one of the 

 most critical periods of a pig's life, one heavy feed may, and often does, 

 ruin the litter. I have had more than one illustration of this. What 

 the sow eats affects the pig directly, and tliat in a few hours. When 

 the pigs are several days old I begin feeding equal parts of ground 

 oats and corn, made into a slop with warm water. The pigs also Avill 

 soon learn to drink of the slop when a trough is given out of reach of sow. 



One very important thing is to notice in the pig's mouth for those 

 little, black, sharp teeth. Provide yourself with a small pair of nippers 

 aud nip the teeth off close. If you have had experience of this kind you 

 know that the little fellows will bite one another, also bite the dam, 

 it being but a short time until they get no milk and the results are 

 you have a litter of runts. 



W'hen pigs are eight or ten days old, move the sow into a small lot, 

 or put two sows and their litters together, that is, sows that are accus- 

 tomed to each other, where they can have exercise and get a little grass. 

 The pigs will naturally go along and get what exercise they need, thus 

 avoiding thumps and keeping them from getting fat and lazy. The 

 feeder must watch the pigs closely every day and increase feed only 

 as it is required, alwaj's just enough to get all possible growth, yet 

 never once too much. The instant the pigs begin to scour, cut 

 down the sow's feed. Just a little copperas dissolved in sow's swill 

 will check scours if done at once. If pigs show any signs of constipa- 

 tion add a little oil meal to sow's slop. Don't over do it. At all times 

 keep sows' qxiarters clean, bedding fresh and dry. Sore tails, scurvy, etc., 

 are the results of filth and neglect. 



When pigs are two or three weeks old l>ogin to feed them to one 

 side, where the sows can't disturb them, get them to eating and as they 

 take more feed they will require less from the sow. Weaning them 

 is largely a matter each breeder decides according to use of the sow 

 afterwards and can be done at seven or eight weeks or later as the 

 case demands. But let the weaning, whenever done, be prepared for 

 first and not done suddenly. Cut down the sow's I'ations a week before 

 liand to stop the How of milk, then when weaning remove sow and leave 

 tlie pigs. Shut sow up in a tight, dry pen and feed very light for at 

 least five or seven days and it is not likely you will be troubled witli 

 ulcerated udders. It is impossible to lay down any set rules, telling 

 just how much to feed, just what to feed, just how, when and where 

 to feed, for this must depend largely on circumstances, surroundings 



